Attitudes Toward Cannabis of Users and Non-users in Spain: a Concept Mapping Study Among University Students

Abstract

The social perception of cannabis use in Spain is getting more tolerant among young people. This study aims to uncover the attitudes of university students toward cannabis and examine the differences in their attitudes according to their use status. We applied concept mapping, a mixed-methods approach. Participants were recruited from 12 universities. During the first stage, 5 focus groups were conducted with 56 participants to determine the ideas in the concept map. In the second stage, ideas were pile-sorted and rated by 140 participants (77% females; average age = 21.6). Hierarchical cluster analysis of the pile-sort data generated the cluster map. We used t-tests to explore differences in ratings by pastyear users and non-users (abstainers and ex-users). Participants generated 70 ideas associated with cannabis during the brainstorming sessions and categorized them into six groups: risks and harms, information, legalization, motives, tobacco and cannabis, and normalization. Users and non-users agree that cannabis has health risks and that smoking it mixed with tobacco is the main route of administration, although they do not perceive that this mode increases the hazards. Both users and non-users demand more information. However, they strongly disagree regarding the rest of the clusters. Users distinguish between sensible and problem use. They associate frequent use and coping motives with difficulties, whereas they perceive that moderate use yields pleasures and benefits. They blame the lack of legalization for the social stigma they still suffer. Non-users reject these considerations. Spanish university students believe that cannabis use is normal among young people. Non-users are tolerant of peers who use cannabis, but users feel stigmatized. There is a divide between the two groups regarding the convenience of implementing legal reforms.

Cannabis Use in Young and Adult University Students Before and During the COVID-19 Lockdown, According to Gender and Age

“…Spliffs are the preferred form of consumption, being the usual in the Spanish and European population (EMCDDA, 2019 ; Pirona et al, 2015 ) and university population (Alvarez-Roldan et al, 2022 ). This has important implications.…”

“…It seems of interest to analyze the consumption reasons according to both variables. Previous studies (Alvarez-Roldan et al, 2022 ) indicate that among university cannabis users were highlighted as main reasons for consumption a number of positive effects based on their personal experience, such as that they like the flavor, they feel great, makes them laugh, take it to cheer up and have a good time, relaxes them, calms their anxiety, helps them fall asleep, facilitates introspection, and allows them to escape and disconnect. Perhaps certain reasons are more present in one gender than the other, or in an age range, allowing to guide preventive interventions to approach these motivations for cannabis use.…”

“…Furthermore, drug use increases especially in university students who live in dorms or student flats, although the preferred place of consumption is at private parties (Higuero, 2018 ) and certain festive events (Buckner et al, 2018 ). In fact, the majority of the university population considers cannabis a very accessible substance (Alvarez-Roldan et al, 2022 ).…”